Our school has an Outdoor Learning Committee that I am a part of. We all feel very strongly that the environment where the children play outside is just as important as the environment inside our school. We have worked hard to make our playground an area where the kids can run, exercise explore and yes...learn! Outside play plays an important role in children's development! They are working gross motor muscles and getting must needed exercise. They learn how to solve problems such as when social disagreements arise. They learn empathy as they help friends who get hurt. They learn to take risks and see where their limits are and feel empowered as they take those risks and succeed. They create games and role play. They learn science concepts as they discover things in nature and learn to look closer and ask questions about what they see as they discover new things. They learn kindness as they try to save an insect in danger or nurture a plant. They are literally learning about life and life skills as they play outside, so we knew the environment needed to support that. We had an area that we were having some problems with in the middle of our asphalt area. We wanted to turn it into something all of the kids could explore and benefit from and decided to create a Barefoot Sensory Path. We came up with a design and my husband figured out how to make it so that it would be sturdy and last. Our amazing PTO gave us funds to purchase the materials and we had fun shopping at Lowes for items that would provide the sensory experiences we were hoping for. Our team came in on a Saturday and went to work. Our maintenance team had dug the area down four inches so that it would be even with the asphalt. We put down a layer of paver sand, and then the 4x4's. We glued some materials to 2x2 pieces of plywood. The sections were all 2x2. We filled the sections with paver base and tamped it solid. My son even came and helped! Here is the finished frame. Of course, we had to test it out! Here is the finished path!! We were so excited for the kids to try it! It was a huge success!! The kids absolutely loved walking on it with bare feet, crawling on it and feeling with their hands and even laying in it enjoying the warmth radiating from it from being in the sun. Another new area we created was an area to create roads, ramps, etc. using scrap wood, cars, signs and other loose parts. This lovely lady below had the vision for this area! We also added an area to really work those gross motor muscles. Mr. Doyle created a boundary to keep it all contained to one area. We filled it with stumps, logs, and large branches. The kids have created obstacle courses and love lifting these up to show how strong they are! They jump, balance and create here. They collaborate and problem solve. They use both critical and creative thinking skills. This is a great area to develop 21st Century Learning Skills as they play! For our nature lovers, we have an area with plants for them to explore and observe. Some are edible such as peppermint and fennel. We have cone flowers, milkweed, irises, sunflowers and more. This area is a great place to explore and observe insects also! Here are some other things on our playground where they can let lose and have fun! Our playground is still a work in progress! We have many more ideas that we want to implement some day! One step at a time!
Cortina d'Ampezzo or just Cortina, Italy provides outdoor adventure seekers a great place to play outdoors. Museums and other city attractions will offer a relaxing break for indoors excitement.
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Be inspired to set up invitations to play and learn using simple materials from nature with this collection of photos and ideas from early years educators!
FREE printable Symmetry drawing activity for preschool and kindergarten kids. A fun art and math activity in one! Kids will complete the symmetrical pictures by drawing the other half.
Fun STEM activity for outdoor play and makes a great science lesson! (Includes a printable rocket template).
Learn about the Reggio Emilia approach, what it means for your classroom and how to get started with our list of easy, fun activity ideas...
Summer is finally here and I am so excited to spend some time outside making family memories. My latest Pinterest obsession has been fun and unique ideas for outdoor kid’s play areas! John Woodford loves to be outside as much as possible and I can’t wait to put some of these ideas together! I can’t
These free animal tracks printable cards are a great way to get your kids outside. They are perfect for the little explorer in your life!
The Empowered Educator - 5 Important elements to include in your natural outdoor play space
Learn the best parachute games for kids! If you want the best group games for kids, try these fun cooperative parachute games!
How to make an outdoor chalkboard - a really fun addition to your yard that the kids will love! Perfect for your fence or backyard.
Easy forest school activities, done-for-you forest school lesson plans and ready-made nature curriculum: save time and teach better!
Parachute animal games are fantastic for developing teamwork, cooperation and physical development. Find out our favourite 15 games.
We love sensory bags at our house. Ever since I made our first sensory bag, Jumbled Snowman, over a year ago, they are always a guaranteed hit. It is a great way to provide hands on play for toddlers and preschoolers. So of course our Study of the Stars would not be…
A music wall is a great educational opportunity to introduce children to music or sounds. Construct one at your yard with our comprehensive guide!
DIY simple deck for a modern playhouse - Our deck is 3' high, which is tall enough for a slide but not so tall that it feels unsafe.
Spring is almost here --- time to wake up from my hibernation and get these little cubs of mine outside! The warm sunshine never fails to make me want to spruce up our outdoor play spaces. We like to keep outdoor play, well, natural I suppose. So when I am planning outdoor play spaces for
Learn how to construct a DIY Sticky Nature Collage from items you have at home to create a piece of unique art.
How to build a simple and affordable toddler outdoor playhouse for your backyard. This backyard fort is sure to keep the kids happy for hours!
Discover the ultimate guide to hiking in Belgium. With over 40 hikes, there is something for every skill level from easy nature walks, to multi-day trips!
Check out these 14 fun rainy day activities for toddlers, preschoolers and more! These activities encourage creativity and sensory play with the rain!
As the Autumn equinox drew near, my children and I were struck by the changes outside. We started to spot crows flocking, squirrels frantically gathering, and beautiful spiders webs covered with dew on our daily nature walks. This week we found so many incredible webs that we wanted to find a way to keep […]
Everything you need to know about building and starting a raised garden bed! This post will help you begin with confidence!
Gaan je kinderen graag op ontdekken? Dan is een speeltoestel vol avontuur echt iets voor jou! Contacteer ons voor de mogelijkheden.
As soon as the weather warms up, it’s time to say no to TV and phone, get the kids outside! If you’re lucky to own a sprawling property big enough for a kid’s
The Fishbowl Game is a fun-filled memory game that combines Charades, Password, and Taboo. It is easy to learn and perfect for large groups, which means
These indoor and outdoor group games for preschoolers are simple, fun and educational. Build social skills while having fun.
Fun STEM activity for outdoor play and makes a great science lesson! (Includes a printable rocket template).
Get inspired with these 7 ways to make a simple treehouse incredible! Adventure in the woods, treetop fun, active and imaginative play... now.
We are beginning to move full swing into the holiday season and I have been planning the two weeks we will all be at home. With some down time I thought it would be a great chance to plan a few activities with my little ones, and since I do love all things Waldorf, I
Create an amazing outdoor art studio your creative geniuses will love.
12 fantastic outdoor STEM activities for hands-on fun and learning in the summer! Screen free summer activities. #stem #summer #summerschool #stemeducation #getoutside
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Wondering how to start a nature journal with your children? This ultimate guide to nature journals for children is full of ideas you can use to make your own nature journal, start a nature study, and explore the natural world. The ultimate guide to nature journals for children Use these links to dive into […]
Are you looking to bring the beauty of nature into your school routine? Check out our free nature book list! This list contains over 100 beautiful nature books that make celebrating the changing seasons special.
A camping dramatic play area is so much fun for your preschool, pre-k, or kindergarten students.
